Cleaning device



Dec. 11, 1934. s. PILATO CLEANING DEVICE Filed Jan. 3l, 1935 INVENTQR AQRNEKYS Patented Dec. 11, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE t 1,984,154 CLEANING DEVICE Salvatore` Pilato, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application January ls1, 193s, serial No. 654,393

4 claims. `(o1. iii-22o) l This invention relates to a rdevice adapted for washing windows, and particularly to a device for washing windows of the double hung type, which is adapted to be inserted between the two sashes,

and advantageously to wash the panes of both.

It is an object of the invention to yprovide a simple device which can be made and sold at low cost, which will simplify the washing of windows, particularly the double hung type windows. With this object in View, my invention contemplates the use of a `flat and substantially flexible handle to which is secured at one end water-carrying means which advantageously is adapted also resiliently to extend laterally from the handle so as to press simultaneously against the opposed faces of the panes of the two sashes. Another object of the invention is to providea device of the character describedwhich will serve both for washing the window and for drying and/or polishing, and to this end I may include in `my `device a. removable waterproof-cap with which the watercarrying means may be covered, so that in the polishing operation it ywill serve solely to press the dry or polishing rag, Aor other absorbent material, against thewindow without wetting the surface or the polishing cloth, etc.; or I may make the water-carrying means removable so that it may be replaced by a dry, resilient polishing means.

It is a further objectof my invention to make it possible for one to wash both the inside and the outside of a window while standing safely. vupon the floor of Vthe room, `andito avoid the necessity for sitting on the sill, thereby eliminating the 3 danger of falling which, in the past, has caused many serious accidents. Still another object of the invention is to make the washing of windows both a quicker and an easier task than would have been possible without the use of my device as disclosed herein.

In the accompanying drawingiI/have shown several preferred embodiments of .my invention. l It is to be understood that thesefare given for the purpose of illustration, and'that numerous other and different examples could be given, all within ythe scope of my invention.

Fig. 1 is a persepctive `'view of one embodiment ofr my invention showing a handle-stiffening means slightly separated from the handle itself;

Fig. 2 is .a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention, with the handle partly broken away;

Fig. 3 is a cross-.section taken on lline, 3 3 lof Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 isa perspective view of a waterproof cap suitable for use with either of the embodiments shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 5 is a similar perspective view of a polishing rag which may be used in connection with the cap shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of another embodiment, with the water-carrying means removed, better to disclose the structure; `and Fig. '7 is a side elevation partially broken away showing the elements of Figs. 2 to- 5 assembled in operative relation.

, Referring first to Fig. 1, the device there illustrated consists of a narrow and substantially flexible handle 10, which in this case may be made of metal, e. g.,alurninum, bronze, orother metal, flat, or of wood or brous-composition, vulcanized fibre, laminated resin board, etc., and to one end of this handle are secured on opposite sides springs 11, which carry 0n their y,outer extremities plates 12, to which Sponges, e. g., rubber Sponges 13, are secured, for example, by means of clamping plates 14 secured to the plates 12, for example, by means of..rivets or bolts 15. Astiiening strip 18 is preferably provided `with bolts 16 having heads (not shown) shaped to` be inserted through the elongated slots`17, and having wing nuts as shown for tightening the strip 15 against the strip 10.

In using the device as just described, the Sponges 13 yare rst dipped in water which may contain any suitable detergent or mild abrasive, or other material which is .to be used in Washing windows;A `or the detergent or abrasive, etc., may be applied separately thereto either before or after the sponge's are saturated with water or other liquid. The two sashes of a double hung window are then pulled so that they are one over the other. and the two`.sponges 13 are pressed together so that the spring stripsll .lieflat against one another, and the Sponges are ,inserted between the panes of the twol sashes. `When the sponges are released in this position, they are pressed by the spring strips 111 against the opposite surfaces of the two panes ofglass, and by means of the long handle 10, kthe sponges may be moved over the surface of the glass, and the glass thereby effectively scrubbed. AWhen this operation is completed, and if desired, a rinsing operation may be performed in the same manner, and thereafter the glass maybe polished by pressing the two sponges 13 together and stretching the rubber cap 20, e. g., as shown in Fig. 4, over the Sponges, muchas a 'bathing cap would be pulled over ones head, and covering this cap with a rag or chamois, or other absorbent polishing material 21. With these in place, the device is again inserted between the sashes of the window, and is again moved over the surface to dry and polish it. These operations will completely and satisfactorily clean and polish the inner surface of the upper sash and the outer surface of the lower sash. The outer surface of the lower sash is always the most difficult to clean because one cannot close the sash all the way down while sitting on the window sill, and thus a portion of it is always behind the upper sash. With the device of this invention, it is not necessary to sit on the window sill at all; both sides of the window may be washed while standing safely within the room. If it isdesired to use this same device for washing the outer surface of the upper sash, or the inner surface of the lower sash, the handle is preferably stiffened, e. g., by means of the stiffening strip 18. This may be quickly accomplished by loosening the thumb nuts on the clamping bolt 16, inserting the heads of these bolts through the elongated slots 17, and giving them a half turn,- and then tightening the wing nuts. This stiiening is desirable, particularly when washing the outside of the upper sash from within, since any exing of the handle would require one to reach farther out from the window, and it is thus desirable to have the handle substantially rigid. Of course, this stiffening member is not necessary, and need not be used in every case. Where the window is large, or where the window sill is narrow, the handle 10 may itself be made substantially rigid, e. g., of a corrugated springy metal as shown in Fig. 6, but for ordinary use, I prefer to use a material which will allow substantial flexing of the handle during insertion. Thus a relatively long handle such as may be required for a large window can be used without diiculty in washing a much smaller window, by merely flexing the handle suiciently to bring it over the window sill.

v In Figs. 2 and'3, I have shown another embodiment of my invention. In this case, the handle 10 is secured directly to a block 12a, to which a sponge 13a is clamped, e. g., by means of the clamping plate 14ul and clamping bolts 15a.

The sponge 13a in this case is preferably one ofthe type which is made by splitting a molded rubber sponge so as to expose its frothy surfaces and cementing together the relatively solid skins which are formed at the surfaces of the mold during the manufacture of the sponge. These relatively solid skins and the cement by which they are held together form thin layers 30 extending transversely through the sponge, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and these relatively solid layers serve, in the use of this device, as squeegees, or Scrapers, to assist in the removal of particles of material which may adhere to the surface of the glass, and which could not be readily removed by the frothy portions of the sponge.

The use of the device illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 may be substantially the same as described in connection with Fig. l, and the cap and the polishing material 21 may be used in the same manner for the subsequent drying and/ or polishing of the window. If desired, the cap 20 may serve both as a waterproof cap and as the polishing material, and it is to be understood, of course, that my invention may be used to advantage eventhough ther cap 20 is not used at all. For example, asecond of these devices, the head of which is substantially dry, may be used with a rag or chamois thrown over its end to effect the drying and/or polishing of the window, the sponges may be pressed sufciently dry so that they can be used without the cap 20 by merely throwing a chamois, or other polishing material, over them, or a wiping and polishing block may be substituted for the sponge as described in connection with Fig. 6; and as will be obvious to those skilled in the art, my invention may be used with advantage forY the Washing operation even though it is not used at all in the drying or `polishing operations.

` Although I have shown the block 12a in Fig. 3 asachannel member, it is obvious that many other forms may be adopted.

In Fig. 6, I have shown another form of my invention. In this case, the handle 42 is similar to the handle 10, but made of a corrugated resilient metal. The corrugations serve to stilien the metal without greatly increasing the thickness. For the purpose of clear illustration I have shown in Figure 7 these several parts assembled in operative relationship with parts of each broken away so as to show their relation to one another. If the metal is sufliciently resilient, the handle can be bent by the application of suicient force to hatten the corrugations, but will not be bent by the force normally applied in washing a window.

The` head of this device is made of a strip of metal, wood, bre or other material, about 11A, inches wide by 1/8 inch thick. A U-shaped clasp 40 is made from this strip with a central portion 41` at the bottom twisted so as to lie flat against the face of the handle 42 to which it is secured, e. g., by means of rivets 43. At 44 the strip is bent over to form a hinge by which the clasp member 45l is secured thereto. This member, as shown in Fig. 6, is preferably dished along the major portion of itslength so as to give it a greater rigidity and strength. Near the opposite end, a hole 46 is cut out for reception of the hooked end 47 of the U-member 40. The hook 47 ordinarily will not be the full width of the strip 40, and the shoulders formed by the narrowing from the full width 40 to the hook 47 are preferably beyond the bend 48, so as to avoid scratching the woodwork, etc., when the device is in use. Similarly, the end of the clasp member 45 preferably falls back of the curved corner of the member 40, so that its edge will be held away from scratching woodwork, etc.

In using this device, a sponge or felt pad, or any other suitable water-carrying means is placedwithin the U -member40 and secured therein by pressing down the clasp 45, and by pressing together the ends of the U-member 40 the hook 47 will be engaged in the opening 46. This device is then used in exactly the same way as the device shown in Figs. 2 and 3. When the window has been washed, the wet sponge or pad, etc., may be removed from the device merely by pinching together the upper ends of the U-member 40, so that the clasp 45 is released and a new dry pad may be substituted therefor. For this purpose I prefer to use a thick felt which may be readily engaged in between the 'U-mem-` ber and the clasp, and which will be highly resilient, so as to press against the opposite panes of a window or a dry sponge or other resilient pads may be used in this way covered with a cloth or chamois as, for example, asshown in Fig. 5.

am aware that numerous other changes and modifications may be made Without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. A window washing device comprising a fiat,

stiff handle adapted to be inserted between the sashes of a, double hung window and to be substantially rigid against stress parallel to the window panes while allowing iiexing transversely to the window whereby the device may be inserted between the sashes, resiliently compressible water carrying means secured to one end of said handle and having opposite flat surfaces adapted simultaneously to rub against the opposite window panes, said water carrying means being thinner when compressed together than the space between said sashes and adapted resiliently to expand against the panes on both sashes. y

2. A window washing device as dei-ined in claim 1, which further includes a waterproof cap adapted to fit over the water-carrying means and an absorbent covering therefor whereby to wipe the Window dry.

3. A window washing device as defined in claim 1, in which the water-carrying device comprises a pair of water-absorbing pads resiliently pressed apart by means of springs. y

4. Al washing device comprising a i'lat handle, a U-member formed of a single strip bent to U- shape and with its central portion twisted to lie iiat against the handle while the U extends beyond the handle, and a clasp member hingedly secured to one side of the U and means on one of said members near the free end thereof adapted removably to engage the free end of the other of said members whereby removably to hold agpad within said U at the end of said handle, and a resiliently expansible water carrying pad having opposite flat surfaces adapted to rub against opposed spaced surfaces which are to be washed thereby, said pad being mounted within said U-member and secured therein by said clasp-member.

SALVATORE PILATO.

CERTIFICATE QF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,984,154. December 1l., 1934.

SALVATGRE PILATO.

It is llerehy certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, second column, lines 22 to 26 inclusive, strike ont the the words For the purpose oi clear illustration I have shown in Figure 7 these several parts assembled in operative relationship with parts ef each broken away so as to show their relation to one another." and insert the same after "window" in line 70, first column, of same page; and that the said Letters Patent should he read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record oi the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 5th day oi March, A. D. 1935.

Leslie Frazer (Seal) loting {ommissioner oi Patents. 

